Methyl Ethel have recruited fellow WA artist Stella Donnelly for their latest single, with “Proof” set to appear on their newly-announced fourth album, Are You Haunted?.
The first Methyl Ethel track to feature an additional singer alongside Jake Webb, “Proof” follows on from the likes of previous singles “Neon Cheap” and “Matters”, and sees a reunion with one-time Methyl Ethel guitarist Stella Donnelly.
With Webb describing the song as being “about truth and movies”, “Proof” is an eclectic number that meditates on what exactly constitutes reality in the post-Trump, post-climate-crisis, post-COVID era where science is regarded as a mere suggestion by some. Webb and Donnelly underline this notion, urging the listener to “take a chance on proof (if you want to).”
“Stella is one of the most truth-telling artists I’ve ever heard,” Webb says of the collaboration. “It made for a perfect match.” Donnelly continues, “Working on ‘Proof’ with Jake felt like being invited to the set of your favourite movie, such an insightful and wonderful experience.”
Pairing the track with a video self-directed by Webb, the accompanying clip takes cues from German Expressionist film, and also explores the symbolism of black-and-white thinking and the fluidity of “truth” as a concept.
“Proof” is set to appear on the group’s forthcoming album, Are You Haunted?, which arrives on February 18th.
“There are these spirits, memories of our old selves, our younger selves, parents,” Webb says of the album, “generations past whose deeds, actions, successes and failures shape us. We all have these ghosts that linger in our present predicaments.”
Deeply thematic and relevant for the times in which we find ourselves, the record sees Methyl Ethel almost coming full circle, with Webb returning to the studio in which the first songs were laid down for the project.
“A dear friend of mine recently passed away, the studio is his,” Webb explains. “I spent many years of experimentation with him, learning so much looking over his shoulder. It feels special to continue to share the space with his ghost, I’m still learning from him.”
Methyl Ethel will also be hitting the road in the coming months in support of the record, with a number of festival dates also complementing their Australian trek. Full details are available below.
Methyl Ethel’s “Proof” is out now, while new album Are You Haunted? is released on February 18th, with pre-orders available now.
Methyl Ethel 2022 Tour Dates
Friday, February 25th
Perth Festival, Perth, WA
Saturday, March 26th
Meadow Festival, Bambra, VIC
Thursday, April 21st
Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, April 22nd
Roundhouse, Sydney, NSW
Wednesday, April 27th
The Night Cat, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday, April 28th
The Night Cat, Melbourne, VIC
Friday, April 29th
The Night Cat, Melbourne, VIC
Saturday, July 23rd
Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay, NSW
Tickets on sale via the Methyl Ethel website
